Stilt.



G. SGHMID.

STILT.

APPLICATION FILED JAN. 29, 1913.

1,078,962. Patented Nov. 18, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

WITNESSES: INVENTOR g M guslave Sehmid Br 7 ATTORNEY @NTTED @TATES PATENT UFFTQE.

GUSTAVE SCHMID, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

STILT.

Application filed January 29, 1913.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GUs'rAvn so'lmno, a citizen of the Republic of Switzerland, residing at Chicago, in the county of (look and State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Stilts, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to stilts which are adjustable to elevate the wearer to any desired height within the range of the appliance, and it is the object of the invention to provide novel and improved raising and lowering means which are controlled by the wearer, and by which he is enabled to raise or lower himself without dismounting.

The invention also has for its object to provide novel and improved means for at taching the stilts to the persons legs.

These objects are attained by a combination and arrangement of parts to be hereinafter described and claimed, reference be ing had to the accompanying drawings, in which-- Figure l is a perspective view of the appliance. Fig, 2 is an edge view of a portion thereof with parts removed. Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4; is an elevation of a 'aising and lowering mechanism to be hereinafter described. Fig. 5 is a View similar to the last preceding, showing the parts in another position. Figs. 6, 7 and 8 are perspective views of certain parts of the raising and lowering mechanism.

Referring specifically to the drawings, 10 denotes a block in the shape of a last or foot from which rise two laterally spaced rack-bars 11, the same being rigidly secured to opposite sides of the block. A shoe may be fitted on this block. The bars are also connected at the last by a cross bar 12 so that they will travel together.

Slidably mounted on each rack-bar 11 is a housing comprising plates 13 and ll: respectively, which are connected in spaced relation so that the rack-bar may extend there between. The two housings are connected at the bottom by a cross-piece 15, having slots through which the raclebars pass, and to the upper end of the housings are connected side-bars 16, the latter being rigidly secured to the inner faces of the housing plates 14;. The bars 16 extend parallel to the rack-bars along the inner faces thereof, and the upper ends of the former carry a forwardly ex tending bowed strip 17 and a strap 18 for attachment of the device to the leg of the Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 1 S, 1913.

Serial No. 744,934.

person, the strap being passed around the leg and the bowed strip extending partly around the leg. To the cross-piece 15 is secured a foot-plate 19 on which the wearers foot is supported.

The housings and the parts carried thereby are slidable up and down relative to the racleba rs 11, in order that the person using the device may elevate himself above the block 10, the latter serving as a supporting base of the device. It will, of course, be understood that a device as herein described is provided for each leg, but as they do not differ from each other in structure, a description of one sull'iccs for both. The person using the device will be provided with trousers of suflieient length to cover the same, so that he will have the appearance of a person of abnormal height. \Vhilc the device may be used for various purposes, it is primarily designed for stage work.

The following means are provided where by the person may raise or lower himself: One of the plates 13 carries a fixed stud 20 projecting from the outer face thereof. On this stud is fulcrumed a curved lever 21 which is in sliding contact with the plate 13. On the stud, next to the lever, is also r0- tatably mounted a four-toothed ratchet-disk .22 carrying a cam 23, the latter being integral with or fastened to the ratchet-disk. The lever carries a spring-pressed pivoted pawl 24 located so to engage the teeth of the ratchetdislc and thus impart motion to the latter when the lever is actuated. The lever is operated by means of a string 25 connected to the free end thereof, the latter having a stud 2G for attachment of the string. The string passes over a guide 27. A spring 28 anchored at one end to the plate 13 and connected at its other end to the lever 21 returns the latter when the string is released. lVhcn the string is pulled, the lever swings upward, and through the pawl turns the ratchet-disk a quarter revolution, and when the string is rel used, the spring 28 swings the lever downward, the pawl then slipping and not imparting motion to the ratchet-disk.

O11 opposite sides of the stud 20 are mounted angle levers each having arms 29 and 30, respectively. These levers are pivotcd at the angle on studs 31 carried by the plate 13 and have their arms 25), at the extremities, turned in the direction of the stud 20 and in engagement with the pcdownward swing of the lever 21.

Below the parts carried by the stud 20,

and the associate parts herein described, are 7 two pawls 33 and 34 both of which are pivoted on a stud 35 carried by the plate 13, the pivoted ends of said pawl overlapping. A coiled spring 36 connecting the pawls draws the same together. Between these pawls 33 and 34 are two ratchet disks 37 and 38, fast on a shaft 39 projecting through the plate 13 and also extending across the housing formed by said plateand the plate 14. The shaft also extends across to the other housing and between the plates 13 and 14 thereof. Between the housing plates, the shaft carries pinions 40 which are in mesh, respectively, with the rack-bars 11. Between the housing plates are also mounted pinions 41, which are in mesh respectively with the rackbars, and rollers 41 engaging the back edge of the rack-bars. The pinions 40 are fast on the shaft and are designed to slide the housings up and down on the rack-bars. The pinions 41 serve merely as guides.

The ratchet-disks 37 and 38 are integral or connected so that they turn together. Their teeth, however, are inclined in opposite directions. The pawl 33 engages the teeth of the ratchet-disk 37 and the pawl 34 engages the teeth of the ratchet-disk 38. The spring 36 draws the pawls into engagement with the teeth of the ratchetdisks.

'Pivotally mounted on studs 42 carried by the plate 13 are trips for disengaging the pawls 33 and 34 from the ratchet-disks 37 and 38, a trip being provided for each pawl. Each trip comprises a finger 43 projecting from one end of a hub 44 through which latter the stud 42 passes, and from the other end of which hub a finger 45 projects, these fingers pointing in opposite direction. Around the hub 44 is coiled a spring 46 one end of which is made fast thereto, its other end being connected'to a pin 47 carried by the plate 13. This spring 46 tends to rotate the hub in a direction to swing the finger 43 into the path of abutments or lugs 48 projecting from the face of the ratchetdisk 38. The fingers 45 of the trips are de signed to engage the free ends of the pawls 33and 34 and to force the same out of engagement with the teeth of the ratchet-disks 37 and 38. It will be noted that the free ends of said pawls have curved projections 41531 with which the fingers 45 are engagea e.

The trips herein described are connected to the arms 30 of the angle levers hereinbefore described, the connections being wires 50 fastened at one end to said arms, and having at their other ends a loop 51 into which extend pins 52 carried by the hubs 44. Thus a loose connection pro vided. Normally the trip fingers 43 are held out of the path of the abutments 48 by the connections 50 and 51. The loops 51 allow the trips to swing, after being released, without danger of bending or dis torting the connections. 3

The operation of the mechanism herein described is as follows: The trip fingers 43 are normally held out of the path of the abutments 48 by the angle levers, and the pawls 33 and 34 are in engagement with the ratchet-disks 37 and 38. Hence, should it be attempted to move the housing of which the plate 13 is a part up or down with respect to the rack-bar 11, the rotation of the pinions 40 carried by the shaft 39 and meshing with said rack-bars, would be prevented by the pawls 33 and 34 as the ratchet-disks 37 an 38 are fast on the shaft 39. if new the string 25 be pulled, the lever 21 is actuated,

and through the pawl 24 and ratchet disk 22, rotates the cam 23 to the left, or clockwise, whereupon said cam rocks the left angle lever, and the wire 50 connected to the arm 30 thereof releases the left trip to which said wire is connected, so that the trip finger 43 is now swung over by its spring 46 into the path of the abutments 48. At the same time, the finger 45 of said trip engages the curved projection 49 of the pawl 33 and disengages the latter front theratchet-disk 3'7.

again swings the same to release the pawl 33.

The right trip finger 43 remains out of the path of the abutments. When the string is again pulled, the cam is withdrawn from the left angle lever, and all the parts are restored to their normal position to hold the shaft locked. lVhen the cam 23 is oper ated to actuate the right angle lever, the parts are set for allowing rotation of the shaft, in a direction to elevate the operator,

the operation being the same as before but reverse.

The mechanism is covered by a plate 52 which is held by the stud 20, the same passing through the plate and being threaded at; its outer end to receive a nut 53. Between The shaft 39 is now free to turn in one direction, the pawl 34 sllpping, andthe corthe cam 23 and the inner face of the cover plate is interposed a sprlng washer or ring 54 to allow the parts loose on said stud to turn, even if the cover plate has been fastened down tightly. A second stud 55 is also provided for fastening the cover plate.

Wearing two of these appliances, one on each leg, the wearer, while walking, can easily, by pulling the strings 25, adjust his height, the heighten one leg being adjusted while the body is supported on the other leg.

I claim:

1. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, and means for locking the shaft against rotation in either direction, said means being operable to re lease the shaft.

2. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, housings slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest supported between the housings, a shaft carried by the housings, pinions fast on the shaft within the housings and in mesh with the rack-bars, and means for locking the shaft against rotation in either direction, said means being operable to release the shaft.

3. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising there from, a shaft, pinions fast in the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, bars rising from the support and having leg fastening means, and means for locking the shaft against rotation in either direction, said means being operable to release the shaft.

4. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, bars rising from the support, a bowed plate connecting said bars, a strap carried by the bars adjacent to the bowed plate, and means for locking the shaft against rotation in either direction, said means being operable to release the shaft.

5. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, leg securing means carried by the support, and means for locking the shaft against rotation in either direction, said means being operable to release the shaft.

6. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the raclebars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, a pair of ratchetdisks fast on the shaft, the teeth of which disks are oppositely inclined respectively, pawls normally in engagement with the respective ratchet-disks, and means for disengaging either one of the pawls from its ratchet-disk.

71A device of the character described comprising a base, 'ack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, a pair of ratchetdisks fast on the shaft, the teeth of which disks are oppositely inclined respectively, pawls normally in engagement with the respective ratchet-disks, trips for disengaging the pawls, and means for operating the trips.

8. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest 'arried by the support, a pair of ratchetdisks fast on the shaft, the teeth of which disks are oppositely inclined respectively, pawls normally in engagement with the respective ratchet-disks, trips for disengaging the pawls, perating means for the trips, a cam for actuating said operating means, and means for actuating the cam.

9. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, a pair of ratchetdisks fast on the shaft, the teeth of which disks are oppositely inclined respectively, pawls normally in engagement with the respective ratchet-disks, trips for disengaging the pawls, levers having an operative connection with the trips, a cam rotatable bctween the levers, and means for actuating the cam.

10. A device of the character described comprising a base, rack-bars rising therefrom, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rack-bars, a foot rest carried by the support, a pair of ratchet.- disks fast on the shaft, the teeth of which disks are oppositely inclined respectively, pawls normally in engagement with the respective ratchet-disks, abutments on one of the ratchet-disks, trips adapted to extend into the path of the abutments and having fingers engageable with the pawls to disengage the same, resilient means tending to swing the trips into the'path of the abutments, and means for holding the trips out of the path of said abutments.

11. A device of the character described comprising a base, vrack-bars rising'there from, a shaft, pinions fast on the shaft and in .mesh with the rack-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the rackbars, a foot rest carried by the support a pair of ratchet- .disks fast on the shaft, the teeth of which disks are oppositely inclined respectively, pawls normally in engagement With the respective ItltChet-CllSkS, abutments on one of ;the ratchet,clisks trips adapted to extend v of the abutments, and means for operating the levers.

12. A device of the character described COIIIPIlSlIlg a base, rack-bars r sing therefrom, a shaft, pi11ions fast on the shaft and e,

in mesh with the raek-bars, a support for the shaft slidable on the racksbars, afoot rest carried by thesupport, a ,pair of ratchet.-

disks fast --on the shaft, the teeth of which disks are oppositely inclined respectively, pawls normally in engagement with the respective ratchet-disks, abutments on one of the ratchet-disks trips adapted to extend into the path of the abutments and having fingers engageable with the paWlsto disenthe cam.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature 1n presence of two Witnesses.

GUSTAVE SCHMID.

Witnesses S. J. LEI-IRER, H. G. 'BATCHELOR,

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. J 

